Push button operated rotary switch



Get. 15, 1940. c, RASMUSSEN 2,218,358

PUSH BUTTON OPERATED ROTARY SWITCH Filed June 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 INVENTOR. CHRIST/HIV H. RHSHUSSEN Oct- 15. 1940' c. A. RASMUSSEN PUSH BUTTON OPERATED ROTARY swmn Filed June 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [HR/$7704 fl. PHSMl/SSEN ATTO BY.

- Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE Christian A. Rasmussen, Colonial Heights, Ohio Application June 13, 1939, Serial No. 278,918

6 Claim.

This invention relates in general to rotary electrical contactors and more particularly to electrlcal contactors arranged to be driven by power and responding by the action of centrifugal force 5 to the speed of the power source, which contactors are used, for example, for controlling the reversible variable speeds of printing press motors. Rotary contactors of the type referred to above are often used with individual plugging switches to effect proper and quick stopping of the motors, however, mounting of such individual plugging switchces naturally complicates the mechanical and electrical hook-up between the motors, the contactors and the plugging switches.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary electrical contactor which embodies all switching means for control of the motor and, in addition, includes plugging switching means coupled with the contactor, so that the plugging switching means act in predetermined positions of the other switching means of the contactor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotary electrical contactor which embodies centrifugal force and plugging switching means, also actuated upon by centrifugal force, to effect proper opening and closing of all switches in accordance with the rotary speed of the electrical contactor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rotary electrical contactor embodying shiftable contact means for a plurality of switches shiftable and slightly rotatable contact means for another switch, centrifugal means for actuating said shiftable means, and centrifugal means including friction means for actuating said shiftable and slightly rotatable contact means for the other switch in forward and reverse rotation of a motor, said centrifugal means being axially aligned with each other and including a single drive member axially extended therethroug-h.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly w a plurality of switching means actuated upon by Fig. 1 is a side view of a rotary cont/actor made in accordance with the invention.

Fig 2 is a cross sectional view through the rotary contactor shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 2-2 of said figure.

Fig. 3 is another cross sectional view through the rotary contactor shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 3-3 of said figure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through the rotary contactor shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 4-4 of said figure.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the r0- tary contactor shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through the rotary contactor shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an electrical diagram of a hook-up of the rotary contractor with a motor showing push button control for the contactor.

The rotary contactor which is applicable for switching operations in either direction of rotation of a motor comprises a housing 2 having end members 3 and 4. These end members support in bearings 5 a shaft 8 outwardly extended through end member 4 to permit of said shaft being coupled with a suitable driver of a motor to be controlled by the contactor. Shaft 6 mounts in its central portion a bracket 1 sleeved upon said shafit and pinned thereto as at 8, which bracket embodies symmetrically arranged pairs of ear or hinge portions 9. These portions pivotally mount weights I 0 embodying lever-like extensions H linked .to switch actuating collar-like means I2 and it. As shown, there are four weights l0 arranged in pairs, each of which is coupled at its lever-like extension I l with one of the respective collar-like means [2 and H by link members l5. Rotation of shaft 6 effects outward movements of the weights III by centrifugal force and inward sliding movement of collar-like means l2 and H. The outward movement of the weights l0 and therewith the sliding movement of collar-like means I2 and I4 is yieldingly counteracted by compression springs l6 and I1 ar-- ranged between collars l8, l8 adjacent .to bracket 1 and the collar-like means l2 and I4 respectively.

The described centrifugal device actuates upon a switching means l9 arranged at the rear end portion of housing 2 and this switching means embodies a stationary member 20 and two shiftable contact members 2| and 22. The stationary member 20 consists of a plate 23 of insulating said device.

material, which plate is seated upon a laterally extended arm 24 on end member I and secured thereto by means of a screw 2| extended through a slot 26 in said plate to permit of the adjustment to the desired position, and of four contact posts 21 adjustably secured to said plate in slots 24 by means of angles 29 and screws 30. Contact posts 21 are also made of insulating material and have secured thereto contact terminals 3| co-operating with bridging contacts 32 of contact members 2| and 22, which members are made of insulating material, in establishing the desired circuits at predetermined speeds of shaft 6. There are three contacts 32 on each of the members 2| and 22 and these terminals are electrically connected with each other so as to bridge the open circuits in question when the terminals in posts 21 engage the bridging contacts 32 of the respective contact members 2| and 22.

Contact members 2| and 22 are coupled with the centrifugal device in such a manner that this device freely rotates and effects axial shifting of said members at changes of the rotary speed of For such purpose members 2| and 22 are supported by and coupled with a collar 33, which collar is mounted on the outer race 3'4 of a ball bearing 35 having its inner race 35 supported on shaft 6 and which collar supports in ear portions 3'6 guide rods 31 slidably extended through bores in members 2| and 22. A flanged collar 39 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 6 supports the rear ends of guide rods 36, limits the movement of member 2| and positively shifts such member toward the right when collar member I2 is shifted by increase in centrifugal force. The constant members 2| and 22 are yieldingly forced into opposite directions by means of compression springs 40 sleeved upon guide rods 36 between said contact members 2| and 22, which members, in addition, are sized to prohibit their accidental rotary movement with shaft 6, exten sions M on such members contacting with plate 23 serving such latter purpose.

The described centrifugal device furthermore, by switch actuating collar means l4, controls a switching means 42 arranged at the front end of housing 2, which switching means is utilized for plugging purpose of a motor controlled by the rotary contactor. This switching means embodies a stationary member 43 and a shiitable contact member 44 slightly rotatably coupled with collar means M for actuation thereby. The stationary member 43 consists of a plate 45 of insulating material, which plate is seated upon a laterally extended arm 46 on end member 4 and secured thereto by means of a screw 41 extended through a slot 48 in said plate to permit of its adjustment to the desired position, and of two contact posts 49 of insulating material rigidly secured to said plate 45. The contact posts 49 have secured thereto contact terminals 50, controlling circuits for forward and reverse rotation of a motor, whch terminals co-operate with bridging contactor 51 of contact member 44 in establishing the desired plugging circuit for the motor. There are four terminal contacts 50, two on each contact post 49, and two bridging contacts 5| on member 44, which latter contacts are electrically connected with each other.

Contact member 44 is coupled with the centrifugal device in such a manner that this device, when rotating effects a slight turn of said memher and axial shifting of said member into contact with the terminal contacts 50, so as to bridge the gap in the plugging circuit for proper plugglng action when the motor, controlled by the rotary contactor, is to be stopped. For such purpose member 44 is supported by and coupled with a collar 52, which collar is mounted on the outer race 54 of a. ball bearing 55, having its inner race 56 supported on shaft 6, and which collar supports in ear portions 51 headed guide rods 58 slidably extended through bores in member 44. Coiled springs 59 yieldingly force member 44 toward collar 53, so as to effect bridging of two of the terminal contacts 50 by bridging contacts 5| when collar 53 is shifted toward the left by the action of the centrifugal device. The collar 63 which is coupled for axial shifting with the centrifugal device is additionally frictionally coupled with said device so as to effect a slight turn of said collar and therewith of member 44 in the direction of rotation of shaft 6, so as to properly align bridging contacts 5| with the proper pair of terminal contacts 50. Such frictional contact is effected by two symmetrically arranged friction members 60 mounted in radial arms 6| of the sleeve-like end member 62 of the centrifugal device. Each friction member 40 consists of a hollow plug 63, threadedly engaged with the bore 64 in its radial arm 6|, and this plug mounts a friction. block 65 yieldingly forced into face to face contact with the side face of collar 53 by means of a coil spring 66.

The centrifugal device, as shown and described,

embodies two substantially symmetrically con structed portions operating the switch actuatin; collar-like means |2 and H, with the exception, that the springs l6 and H are of different elasticity to suit their specific purpose. terminal posts 49 may be readily adjusted to the desired position and thus effect proper control of the running and plugging circuits at any desired speed.

The action of the described rotary contactor. generally mechanically coupled with a motor Bl, will be best understood from. the electrical dia-- gram, Fig. 7 of the drawings, which shows a contactor panel 68 with magnetic switches 69 and 10 for forward and reverse rotation, a run relay 1|, a slow down relay 12, and a high torque and an accelerator contactor 13 and I4 respectively, the acceleration contactor 14 being controlled by a regulator 15. Operation of motor 61 is controlled by a push button station 16. When the run push button 11 is depressed, run relay II will In addition, i

be energized so that one of its contacts closes its own holding circuit and the other one energizes forward contactor 10. The auxiliary contacts on forward contactor 10 then close the circuit for high torque contactor T3 and motor 61 starts. A release of run push button 11 closes the circuit for acceleration contactor I4 and its auxiliary contact is actuated in accordance with the speed of the motor, which speed is controlled by the setting of regulator I5. This above operation takes place when the trip slow down switch 18 is open. However, when trip slow down switch 18 is closed and then run push button 11 is depressed, the circuit for the slow down relay 12 will be closed immediately and acceleration and high torque contactors l4 and 13 will not close. Consequently, motor 51 will accelerate only to the speed determined by centrifugal governor or rotary contactor 19. The action is of course similar if trip slow down switch 18 is closed when the motor is running, as in this case acceleration contactor 14 will open and high torque contactor 13 will remain open, so that motor 61 will slow down to the speed determined by the action of the centrifugal governor or rotary contactor 19. If at any time motor 61 is to be stopped when running in forward or reverse rotation, then stop push button 80 is actuated. In such case the circuit controlling the plugging switch 8| of the centrifugal contactor is closed, so that motor 61, when running in forward or reverse direction, will plug to a stop as soon as stop push button 80 is operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rotary electrical contactor a plurality of oppositely arranged stationary contact means, a plurality of parallelly shiftable non-rotatable contact means including one contact means mounted for rocking action within predetermined limits, said shiftable-contact means being adapted to electrically connect certain of said stationary contact means with each other, speed responsive means intermediate two of said shiftable contact means yieldingly coupled with all said shiftable contact means for shifting same parallelly in accordance with the rotary speed of said speed responsive means,-and means frictionally coupling said speed responsive means with said shiftable contact meansmounted for rocking action to shift same to predetermined positions in accordance with the direction of rotation of said speed responsive means.

2. In a rotary electrical contactor a plurality of stationary contact means, a plurality of parallelly shiftable contact means including one contact means mounted for rocking action within predetermined limits, said shiftable contact means being adapted to electrically connect said stationary contact means pair-wise with, each other and one of said contact means being engaged with said stationary contact means when said contactor is non-rotating, speed responsive means intermediate two of said shiftable contact means, yieldingly coupled with all said shiftable contact means for shifting same parallelly in accordance with the rotary speed of said speed responsive means, and means frictionally coupling said speed responsive means with said shiftable contact means mounted for rocking actions to shift same to predetermined positions in accordance with the direction of rotation of said speed responsive means. g

3. A rotary electrical contactor comprising a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing, centrifugal means secured to said shaft, and switching means at opposite sides of said centrifugal means actuated thereby, the switching means at one side of said centrifugal means comprising a plurality of stationary contact means secured to said housing, two parallelly shiftable non-rotatable contact means arranged between said stationary contact means, means yieldingly coupling said shiftable contact means with said centrifugal means, and yielding means forcing said two shiftable contact means parallelly away from each other, and the switching means at the other side of said centrifugal means including stationary contact means secured to said housing and a parallelly shiftable contact means mounted for rocking action within predetermined limits and cordance with the direction of rotation of said shaft.

4. A rotary electrical contactor comprising a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing, centrifugal means secured to said shaft including two individually and hingedly mounted pairs of weights, and switching means at opposite sides of said centrifugal means coupled with said weights for actuation thereby, the switching means at one side of said centrifugal means including a plurality of stationary contact means secured to said housing, two parallelly shiftable contact means arranged between said last stationary contact means and yieldingly coupled with one pair of said weights, and yielding means forcing said two shiftable contact means parallelly away from each other, and the switching means at the other side of said centrifugal means including stationary contact means secured to said housing and a parallelly shiftable contact means mounted for rocking action within predetermined limits and yieldingly and frictionally coupled with the other pair of said weights of said centrifugal means for shifting and rocking to predetermined positions by and in accordance with the direction of rotation of said shaft.

'5. In a rotary contactor a housing, a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing, a speed responsive device on said shaft having two individually and hingedly mounted pairs of weights, two slidably mounted collar members on said shaft each of Said members being coupled with one of said pairs of weights, so as to be shifted when said device is rotated, and yielding means cluding stationary contact members coupled with said housing and parallelly shiftable bridging members yieldably coupled with said collars.

6. In a rotary contactor a housing, a shaft pivotally mountedin said-housing, a. speed re-.

sponsive device secured to said shaft having individually and hingedly mounted pairs of weights, collar members slidably supported on said shaft, each of said members being linked to one of said pairs of weights so as to be axially shifted when said speed responsive device is rotated, and yielding means of different elasticity on said shaft for individually counteracting shifting of said collar members, a switch member coupled with one of said collars having a plurality of stationary contact means mounted on said housing and bridging contact means yieldingly coupled with said collar for slidable and non-rotatable movement with respect to said stationary contact means, and a second switch member coupled with the other one of said collars having a stationary contact means mounted on said housing and a. shiftable bridging contact means mounted for rocking action to predetermined positions and yieldably coupled with said collar for slidable and limited rocking movement with respect to'said stationary contact means.

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